Improvement in rulers



H. M BARROWS 81; W. KENNISH Rulers.

,Patented Jan. 15, I878.

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.ETER,

UNITED j STATES PATENT OF IoE.

' HENRY M. BARROWS, on NEW YORK N. Y., AND WILLIAM KENNISH, or

NElV BRUNSVVIOK, N. J., ASSIGNORS TO SAID BARROWS.

IMPROVEMENT IN RULERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,253, dated January15, 1878; application filed August 24, 1877. v

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY M. BARROWS, of New York city, in the countyand State of New York, and WILLIAM KENNISH, of New Brunswick, Middlesexcounty, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements relating to Rulers, of which the following is aspecification:

. Our improvement is more especially adapted for schools, but may beused with some advantage in various other situations.

We make the ruler hollow from one end to the other, and mount in one enda peculiarlyformed device, which serves as a permanently affixed andsubstantial pencil-sharpener. It performs the double function of apencil-sharpener and of a stop to close that end of the hollow ruler.The other end of our hollow ruler is provided with a device operated bya spring. The spring closes and holds it closed under all ordinaryconditions. The hollow interior of the ruler between the spring-coverand the fixed stop at the opposite end is sufliciently large to retainboth a pen with a suitable handle and a pencil. When it is desired tointroduce or remove either, the spring device is easily opened. In whatwe consider the fullest form of the invention it holds itself openautomatically until it is touched by the finger to commence the closingmotion.

The following is a description of what we consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the entire ruler on the lineT T in Fig. 1. This latter is a cross-section on the line S S in Fig. 1.Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of certain parts detached. Fig. 2shows only the thin hardened steel part, which serves as thepencil-sharpener. Fig. 3 shows the same in a different position with theblock attached, which serves to complete the pencil-sharpener by holdingthe ends of the sheet-steel properly together, and also serves as a stopto close the end of the cavity in the ruler. Fig. 4 is a section of oneend of the ruler, showing a modification of the spring device whichcloses that end. 7

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A is a sufficient mass of well-seasoned wood to form the main body ofthe ruler. It is worked into the proper form exteriorly, and

is grooved longitudinally, as indicated by a. A thinner piece, A, isfirmly glued on, thereby forming a complete ruler adapted to perform allthe ordinary functions of such wellknown device.

One end of the hollow interior a is permanently closed by a device whichserves at the same time as a peculiarly eflicient sharpener for pencils.It is composed chiefly of sheetsteel B, bent around, and having its endsconfined in a short block of wood, B. A circular hole, I), is formed bydies or otherwise in the center of the metal portion B, and two tapering slots, 1), are formed, one on each side of the central hole. Thesheet-steel for the pencil sharpener, having the one hole b and twoholes, b, is bent around by the aid of suitable forming-tools into theposition represented, so that the ends are brought nearly or quitetogether, The ends are then inserted in a sawkerf or analogous groove inthe block of wood B. The whole is forced in and secured by gluing, orotherwise, in one end of the opening a.

To sharpen a slate-pencil, the pencil is applied endwise to the end ofthe ruler, and thrust into the hole b as far as it will go, andvigorously turned or partially turned forward and backward a number oftimes. This presents it to the tapered slots 1) in the converging partsof the material, so as to reduce the pencil to a sharp, or nearly sharp,point. It is then withdrawn, the stony dust jarred out of the ruler endnot having been allowed to pass the block B, and the pencil is in goodcondition for use until it shall require a repetition of the treatment.

At the other end of the ruler we remove a very little of the wood at a,and apply a loosefitting cover of sheet metal, marked D D, the part Dbeing a curved end, which receives a nearly corresponding curved end, E,of a correspondingly wide sheet metal spring, E, which is firmlyfastened by a pin, 0, in the interior of the ruler. The spring E tendsconstantly to straighten itself. Its hooked end E engages the hooked endD of the cover D.

The bent part or hooked end E .is shorter than the corresponding part Dof the cover. When the cover is closed, or nearly closed, the force ofthe springvE presses against the hooked end D of the cover and holds itshut. When the cover is forced entirely open, it presses in suchdirection as to hold it open. In this latter condition a pencil or pen,or both, may be easily inserted or removed from the hole a, after whicha gentle force on the cover D will cause it to snap into the shutposition, and remain securely closed by the force of the spring E. Inthis condition the .ruler is ready to serve all its ordinary uses.

The taper of the end of the pencil will depend on the inclination of thesides in which the tapering slots 1) are formed, and on the taper of theslots themselves.

The ends of the sheet metal should be brought nearly or quite together,and they should be extended nearly or quite parallel to each other intothe block B. We can make the width of the sheet metal B a little lessthan the width of the hole a; but the block B should be of such size asto fill the hole a completely, and be tightly glued to make a strong aswell as tight stop. The metal should be hardened.

The sheet metal for the parts D and E should be enough less in widththan the hole a to allow them to always turn easily. Unlike a covermoving as a slide or mounted in any ordinary means, our spring-cover Dcan never bind and be difficult to operate bythe fingers of a child, butis sure to be easily moved, and so long as the spring remains efficientto securely retain the contents.

bv its elastic action, but allowing it to Some parts of the inventionmay be used without the whole. Modifications may be made withoutsacrificing all the advantages of the invention. We can, for example,make the spring-closing device in a single piece by sacrificing theadvantages due to its being able to hold itself open. Fig. 4 shows aform in which the cover and spring are in a single piece, the dottedlines showing the closed and the strong lines showing the open position.

We claim. as our invention- 7 1. The pencil-sharpener B, formed, asrepresented, with the hole b and the tapering slot 1), the ends beingheld together, or nearly together, by the block B, and the wholeembraced by a substantial support, A, as and for the purposes hereinspecified.

2. A hollow ruler, A A, provided with a spring-cover, D E, holding theaperture closed L be easily opened, as herein specified. Y

3. In combination with a hollow ruler, A A a, and spring-cover D E, thepencil-sharpener B B, adapted to serve the double purposes of apencil-sharpener and of a stop for closing the passage a, as hereinspecified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 17th day ofAugust, 1877, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY M. BARROWS. WM. KENNISH.

Witnesses THOMAS D. STETsoN, WM. E. MOWBRAY.

